Curtain-stretcher.



No. 766,617. PATENTED AUG; 2, 1904.

' U. HEBERT.

CURTAIN STRBTGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAE. 9, 1904.

H0 MODEL.

[NV/INTO)? Attorney UNITED STATES Patented August 2, 1904.

UBALDE HEBERT, OF FRANKFORT, NEYV YORK.

CURTAlN-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,617, dated August 2, 1904.

Application filed January 9, 1904.

To all wii o'm it 'nt/r/y concern:

Be it known that I, UBALDE HEBERT, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Frankfort, in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in curtain-stretchers; and its object is to provide a simple device of this character upon which a number of curtains may be simultaneously stretched.

A further object is to provide stretching means for moving all portions of the side rails of the stretcher laterally and in unison.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists of parallel side rails formed of sections hinged together and connected by toggles adapted to be moved simultaneously for spreading the side rails.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved curtain-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through one of the joints of a side rail. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged section on line 4: 4, Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is an inner elevation of one of the cord-clamps detached.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 1 are similar sections forming a side rail, and each section has a longitudinallyextending slot 2 therein adjacent its outer end, and within this slot is slidably mounted a yoke 3, having a head a, which bears upon the section and supports the yoke within the slot. The yoke 3 extends around and supports a cross-bar 5, having curtain-engaging prongs 6 thereon. The two sections of each side rail have slots 7 in their inner ends, and a connecting-strip 8 is pivoted therein and has oppositely-extending lugs 9 at its ends. Crosspins 10 are arranged in slots 7 and are adapted to contact with the lugs 9 and limit the movement of the sections 1 in one direction. A link 11 is pivoted adjacent each end of each section 1, and the links of the two side rails Serial No. 188,374. No model.)

are pivoted together, as shown at 12, the two pair of links at one end of the stretcher being inclined in a direction opposite to that of the remaining links. The cross-bars 5 engage the yokes 3 of both side rails, and each cross-bar has eyes 18 extending therefrom at opposite sides of the center thereof. Eyes let are secured to the inner edges of the end links 11, and eyes 15 and 16 are secured to opposite edges of the inner links 11 at points adjacent their pivots 12. (lords 17 are secured at their ends to the eyes 13 of cross-bars 5, and these cords are slidably mounted in the eyes 14 and are connected at their centers to eyes 15 by means of cords 18. A block 19 is secured to a link 11 at each end of the stretcher, and each block has a shoulder 20, adjacent which is pivoted a cam 21, having an operatinghandle 22. A bolt 23 preferably connects the cam 21 to the block 19. These cams are adapted to clamp a cord 2e against the shoulders 20, and this cord extends through the two eyes 16 and both clamps.

After the curtain or curtains have been placed upon the stretcher one end of the cord 24: is drawn longitudinally through the clamp adjacent thereto, and as the other clamp will hold the other end of said cord the two eyes 16 will be drawn toward each other, thereby moving the inner links 11 toward each other. Similar movement will be transmitted to the outer links 11 by the cords 18 and 17, and the cross-bars 5 will at the same time be drawn longitudinally of the side rails. It will thus be seen that the curtain will be stretched both laterally and longitudinally. After the proper stretching has been produced the cord 24 is prevented from returning to its original position by the two clamps. Curtain-engaging prongs 25 are also arranged on the side rails of the stretcher and are similar to the prongs 6 before referred to. By employing the peculiar form of joint between sections 1 the stretcher can be readily folded into compact form.

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as 1 am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the scope of my lnventlon.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails and cross-bars connecting the side rails, and movable longitudinally thereof; of links pivoted to the side rails and to each other, and flexible connections between the links and cross-bars, whereby simultaneous movement of the cross-bars and links may be produced.

, 2. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails, and cross-bars connecting the side rails and movable therewith; of links pivoted to the side rails and together, and means for simultaneously moving the cross-bars and side rails away from each other, respectively.

' 3. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails of links pivoted thereto and together, cross-bars slidably mounted upon the side rails, flexible connections between each cross-bar and the links adjacent thereto, and means for simultaneously operating the links and cross-bars.

4. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails formed of hinged sections; of links pivoted to the ends of said sections and together, and flexible connections between the links, whereby simultaneous lateral movement of the sections may be produced.

5. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails formed of hinged sections; of cross-bars longitudinally movable upon said sections, links pivoted to the sections and to gether, and flexible connections between the links and cross-bars, whereby simultaneous movement thereof may be produced.

6. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails formed of hinged sections having longitudinally-extending slots therein; of yokes slidably mounted within the slots, crossbars extending through the yokes, links pivoted to the sections and together, and means for simultaneously moving the side rails and cross-bars. 1

7. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side bars formed of hinged sections, and

having slots therein; of yokes slidably mounted within the sl0ts,cross-bars within the yokes, links pivoted to the sections and together, a flexible connection between the links and crossbars at each end of the stretcher, and means for operating the links and cross-bars of the stretcher simultaneously.

8. In a curtain-stretcher, the combination with side rails each formed of slotted sections, a connecting-strip pivoted to said sections, and

stop-pins upon the strip; of a yoke slidably mounted in the slot in each section, cross-bars 

